About usThe people behind the puzzles in downtown Black Mountain

2019established
1,000+five-star reviews
4rooms

Our story

Founded by Jon Brooks and AJ Stewart, Black Mountain Escape opened in 2019 in the basement of the historic McKoy Building at 103 Black Mountain Ave. We're locally owned and operated, right here in downtown Black Mountain.

Our original adventure, USS McKoy, invites players aboard a WWII destroyer with a mission to complete. Vanishing Act and Out of Time bring new worlds to the same historic building, from a magician's parlor to setting history right.

We love the moment when a room full of clues starts to make sense. Our story-driven adventures give everyone a reason to explore, share ideas, and celebrate the next breakthrough. To our neighbors, visitors, and returning teams: thank you for making Black Mountain Escape part of your celebrations, weekends, and mountain adventures.

2019 — Doors open
Black Mountain Escape opens its doors with USS McKoy, our first escape room adventure.
Fall 2019 — A seasonal mystery
Mystery at McKoy Manor opens as a standalone pop-up escape room for the fall season.
Christmas 2019 — A holiday adventure
Scrooge opens as a standalone pop-up escape room for Christmas.
2021 — Out of Time opens
Out of Time joins the lineup, inviting teams on an adventure to set history right.
2022 — Vanishing Act opens
Vanishing Act joins the lineup, inviting teams into the mystery of a magician's parlor.
2026 — Fluxcorps Industries
Coming soon.

Locally owned. Story driven.

The crew behind the clues

The people who build the stories, run the games, and welcome your team to downtown Black Mountain.

The Black Mountain Escape crew standing together outside the entrance

Get to know our owners

Meet Jon, Nathaniel, Jake, and AJ, the four owners behind Black Mountain Escape. We're a locally owned team inviting you to step away from the everyday and into a story worth sharing.

Jon Brooks

Owner · Founder

Jon first escaped from regulation police handcuffs at age 12. He wasn’t arrested. He and his brother were learning the subtle art of illusion & escape from older magical mentors in Virginia.

A career summer camp director for 30 years after college, Jon and his family got the Escape Room bug in the fall of 2017 and decided that creating one with AJ was the best path back out of retirement.

Fun fact: Most search engines bring up a photo of Jon to the left of Jen when you search the phrase “I volunteer.”

Nathaniel Guffey

Owner · General Manager

Nathaniel joined Black Mountain Escape as General Manager in November 2022. It was there that he found his passion for the escape room industry, and for this business in particular. His day-to-day work centers on overseeing the staff and managing customer relations.

In October 2025, Nathaniel and his wife welcomed their first daughter into the world. They are currently owner-building their first home in Old Fort, NC.

Fun fact: I swam competitively for eight years.

Jake Rasku

Owner · Operations Manager

Jake got his start at Black Mountain Escape in 2021, while he was still in high school. What began as a job quickly turned into a passion for the creativity, problem-solving, and behind-the-scenes magic that makes escape rooms so special.

Over the years, Jake has gone from helping run games to helping run the business, becoming one of the owners in 2026. These days, he spends his time improving the guest experience, keeping things running smoothly, and finding new ways to bring ambitious ideas to life.

Fun fact: Jake also runs Escape Customs, where he designs and builds custom puzzles and props for other escape rooms.

AJ Stewart

Owner · Founder

In 2017, with zero industry experience and a big imagination, AJ teamed up with Jon to create new worlds at Black Mountain Escape. A maker and storyteller at heart, he quickly realized that it wasn’t just about the build, but rather the stories behind them and the players and actors who bring them to life. In the end, AJ believes it’s all about the people, and the magic they can make together.

Fun fact: AJ is also co-owner and Production Manager at Keepers of Balance.

What we care about

Story first
A great escape room gives you more than locks to open. It gives you a world to explore, a reason to work together, and a mission that makes every discovery matter.
Everyone has a part
The best teams share what they find and listen to each other. You don't need special knowledge or experience; we all see and notice things differently. We love seeing players of all ages contribute in meaningful ways.
Memories over minutes
Beating the clock feels great, but it's not the only win. We want you to leave talking about the surprises, the breakthroughs, and the people who shared them with you.

Ready for your next adventure?

Three open rooms, 60 minutes each, for 2 to 8 players. A fourth adventure is coming soon.

See the rooms Plan a group event